Plant for the fabrication of lightweight concrete members



Oct. 3, 1967 E. EGGELING ETAL ,3 4,

I PLAN: FOR THE FABRICATION OF LIGHT-WEIGHT CONCRETE MEMBERS F iled 0ct. 5, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1 7

Ernsf Eggeling Hugo Neese Heinz Nickel INVENTORS.

. AGENT Oct-3,1967 E. EGGELING ETAL 3,3

PLANT FOR THE FABRICATION OF LIGHT-WEIGHT CONCRETE MEMBERS Filed Oct. 5, 1964' v r a Sheets-Sheet 2 4 ////ErnsfEgge /ing 9 Hugo Neese 43 3 Heinz Nickel INVENTORS.

AGENT.

Oct. 3, 19 67 E. EGGELING 'ETAL 3,344,492 r Filed Oct. 5, 1964 PLANT FOR THE FABRICATION DELIGHT-WEIGHT CONCRETE MEMBERS 3 $heets$heefc 5 '73 I l I @77 7O AGENT,

United States Patent 3,344,492 PLANT FOR THE FABRICATION OF LIGHT- WEIGHT CONCRETE MEMBERS Ernst Eggeling and Hugo Neese, Castroperstr. 41, and

Heinz Nickel, Siegenstr. 111, all of Dortmund-Mengede, Germany.

Filed Oct. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 401,741 13 Claims. (Cl. 252) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plant for the production of concrete bodies whereby individual members are formed by subdividing a relatively large concrete body prior to complete setting of the concrete and wherein the concrete body after casting is deposited upon a first conveyor (independent of the casting mold, and then transferred to a second conveyor via longitudinally operating severing means effective to subdivide the body, the body being moved on a palette with longitudinal elements receivable between the elements of the conveyors so that, as the palette is lowered through the conveyor, the body is retained therein. The conveyors may be continuously moving bands with transversely spaced members interleaved with the elements of the palette while a mechanism is provided for raising and lowering same.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of light-weight concrete structural members and, more particularly, to plants for the fabrication of such members from cast relatively large concrete bodies.

Installations for the production of concrete members from incompletely set cast relatively large concrete bodies by severing them along one of their major dimensions have been provided heretofore; in general, such installations provide the usual casting forms into which the concrete is poured and permitted to congeal or set slightly and severing means is cutting them into the individual concrete members which can be completely set or hardened prior to use. Plants of this nature fall into several categories: In one arrangement, the relatively large concrete bodies are cast in the usual forms or molds, the latter having partially or completely removable side and end walls; the walls can thus be taken down and, while still disposed on the floor of the mold, the incompletely set concrete body is subdivided into individual, relatively small concrete bodies by a severing device, generally comprised of a frame and one or more tensioned Wires spanning the frame, which is passed along the body and thus part it into the individual concrete members. From the form, the individual members, still incompletely set, are carried by suitable lifting and transport means to an autoclave or the like in which curing or setting is carried out at an accelerated rate in the presence of steam. In another arrangement, the lifting and transport means removes the relatively large and incompletely set body from the mold and carries it onto a suitable cutting bed at which the severing means operates to part the body into the individual members. From the bed, the concrete elements are carried by rail, trucks or the like into one or more autoclaves wherein the steam-hardening is conducted. In still another arrangement, the casting form has its bottom provided as a conveyor belt which carries the incompletely set concrete mass out of the form in a horizontal plane and pushes the relatively large body onto a transport carriage; in such devices, the severing means can be provided on the conveyer belt so that, as the concrete body is shifted onto the carriage, it is simultaneously or subsequently severed into the individual concrete members. Again the carriage conveys the members to an auto- 3,344,492 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 clave or other means for accelerated hardening of the bodies. All these systems have disadvantages which have prevented their Widespread acceptance. In the case of severing of the concrete bodies within the mold, relatively large casting areas are required in order to make efficient use of the appurtenances required for the casting and curing of the bodies. The latter are frequently carried on the mold boards into the autoclave and this system is characterized by a deterioration of the mold structure as a consequence of the high temperatures and, frequently, high pressures present in the autoclave. Since a number of severing devices are required, the considerable cost of such units also has led to the avoidance of installations of this type. In arrangements wherein the precast, incompletely set body is carried from the mold to a cutting bed, the problems involved in the need for large casting areas are reduced although the complicated and expensive means required for carrying out the severing operation, and then transporting the smaller concrete bodies or members from the cutting bed to the autoclave, have precluded widespread employment of installations of this type. Additionally, the times required for the severing of the relatively large bodies and their insertion into the autoclaves eliminates the possibility of operating such installations with high efficiency. Systems making use of conveyor belts in each of the forms have the obvious disadvantages that the conveying and severing arrangements are expensive and prone to disorder. Furthermore, the casting forms or molds for use in this system have only a limited length and cannot be extended without placing undue strain on the conveying system and, in practice, installations of this type have only been found successful for concrete bodies of limited length.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a plant for the fabrication of concrete members from incompletely set cast concrete bodies wherein the aforementioned disadvantages are obviated.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide, in a plant of the character described, an improved arrangement for severing and transporting the concrete bodies produced.

These objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter, are attained in accordance with the present invention, by the provision, in a plant of the character set forth, of a severing station comprising a first conveyor for receiving the relatively large body and displacing it longitudinally in a horizontal direction, and severing means forwardly of this conveyor in the horizontal direction of its displacement and extending generally transversely of the body for parting it into a plurality of relatively small bodies upon passage of the relatively large body through the severing means during the operation of the first conveyor; a second substantially horizontal conveyor is displaceable in this direction and is disposed forwardly of the severing means for receiving the relatively small bodies emerging therefrom. At least one of the conveyors is provided with an array of parallel and transversely spaced generally horizontal support elements extending longitudinally in the direction of displacement of the bodies for carrying at least one of them; the support elements cooperate with grill-shaped transport palettes for selectively elevating the bodies from and depositing them upon the support elements in co-operation with suitable mechanisms for raising and lowering the palettes. Thus, the grill-shaped palettes can each have at least one rigid element or arm and preferably a number of such elements extending in the direction of displacement of the concrete bodies and receivable between the support elements below the respective bodies, the other surfaces of the elements of the palettes lying below the receiving surfaces of the support elements. When the first or receiving conveyor rearwardly of the severing means is provided with the support elements, the mechanism can serve to carry the incompletely set relatively large concrete bodies from their respective forms to the first conveyor and deposit the bodies upon the support elements thereof, the palette being raised and lowered by a suitable mechanism (e.g. a crane). Similarly, the second conveyor can be provided with the support elements which carry the relatively small bodies emerging from the severing means onto a location above a transport palette which may be raised to remove these bodies from the second conveyor and displace them onto a carriage or the like for travel to an autoclave or other means for the accelerated hardening of the individual members. Thus either of the conveyors can be provided with the support elements although it is preferred that both be.

According to a more particular feature of the present invention, the support elements can be rigid bars provided with means for simultaneously shifting them in the direction of displacement of the concrete bodies. Alternatively, the support elements can be provided as conveyor belts lying in respective generally vertical planes with the bodies being received upon the upper reaches of the conveyor belts. In each case, the support elements are parallel to one another and preferably extend longitudinally in the direction of displacement. Since only a single severing station can be provided for a row of casting forms, the light-weight concrete elements, which may be provided with reinforcing means as will be apparent hereinafter and which are preferably composed of concrete with which a light-weight aggregate (e.g. foamed metallurgical slag or cinders) has been mixed, can be carried from their respective forms by a lifting mechanism displaceable along the lower forms to the end thereof at which the severing station is provided. Thus only two conveyors are required instead of a multiplicity of conveyor belts each associated with a respective form.

According to still another feature of the present invention, the severing means comprises a support frame spanned by one or more tensioned wires which part the plastic means of the relatively large bodies into individual concrete members, the severing frame being further provided with blade means for shaping the relatively small bodies simultaneously with or subsequently to their parting. The shaping may include the beveling of edges, the formation of grooves, channels or recesses longitudinally along the bodies. Preferably, the frame is generally upright and inclined at a slight angle to the vertical upwardly in the direction opposite the direction of displacement of the concrete bodies. In a modification of the system described, the relatively large concrete bodies can be lifted via the lateral and/or end walls of the mold whose inner surfaces can be downwardly convergent so that a lifting of the wall of the mold will carry the incompletely set concrete body therewith. When the body descends at the first conveyor, the support elements of the latter carry the concrete body while the mold settles therebelow and separates therefrom. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, however, the grillshaped transport palette is interleaved with a plurality of fixed support bars at the base of each mold and forms with the support bars a substantially continuous receiving surface for the concrete, thereby providing a flat floor for the form. The stationary support bars are thus laterally contiguous with the respective arms or elements of the palette adapted to fit between them. The palette can thus be raised by a conventional crane adapted to carry the palette to the first conveyor means whereby the support elements thereof receive the concrete body. The separate step, required in conventional system, of placing the concrete body upon the palette is thereby obviated. While a first palette is disposed on the first conveyor, a second palette can be inserted in the form to provide the floor thereof with the stationary support bars and enable the concurrent casting of another relatively large body. This system makes maximum utilization of the forms and eliminates the need for large casting areas. At the discharge side of the severing means, the individual bodies can be elevated on respective palettes and placed onto a transport carriage of any conventional type, which passes into a distributing station adapted to direct it into one or more autoclaves. The palette at the discharge side of the severing station lies below the support elements of the second conveyor and is lifted into engagement with the concrete bodies thereon so that damage to the concrete bodies, which have not completely set, is avoided.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following specific description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, somewhat diagrammatically illustrating an installation for the fabrication of concrete members in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the vertical plane II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 taken, however, along the line IIIIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of one of the conveyors according to a modification of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a severing means, according to the present invention, with some parts shown in section; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the deposition of a relatively large concrete body at the receiving conveyor of a severing station embodying the present invention.

In FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a plant for the fabrication of light-weight concrete members which comprises a row 10 of forming locations arrayed below a pair of rails 11 carrying a crane 12. This crane 12 is shiftable from its right-hand position at a station 13 for the assembly of reinforcing mats 14 which can be disposed within the forms 15. A concrete mixer 16 is carried by a carriage 17 and is shiftable on tracks 18 along the row 10 of forms 15. The latter may be provided with removable walls or can be entirely removable to permit grill-shaped pallets 20 to be disposed in interleaved relationship with the upstanding support bars 21 at the base of the respective molds. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the bars 21 and the rigid pallet elements 20 are laterally contiguous so that a generally smooth and planar receiving surface is formed for the concrete cast in the mold. The crane 12 is provided with a pair of rigid slings 25 adapted to engage the opposite longitudinal extremities of the pallets 20 and lift them, upon removal of the forms 15, from the mold locations 10 and transport them to the severing station. The latter is disposed at one end of the row 10 of forms and comprises a first or receiving conveyor 27 consisting of a plurality of belts 28 mounted on drums 29, 30 driven by a motor 31. Deflecting drums 29' and 29" permits the belts to clear the sling 25 upon lowering of the pallets. The belts 28 lies in respective vertical planes and are laterally spaced to receive between them the rigid elements 20' or arms of the pallets 20 (FIG. 2). As the pallets, carrying the relatively large concrete bodies 32, are lowered onto the conveyor 27, the palette elements 20 pass between the support belts 28 of the conveyor and thus transfer the concrete bodies. The continuously moving conveyor belts 28 carry the large concrete body 32 longitudinally, e.g. downwardly as seen in FIG. 1, through the severing means constituted by a frame 37, spanned by at least one but preferably a plurality of tensioned wires 38. As is evidenced from FIG. 3, the severing frame 37 is disposed forwardly of the first conveyor in the direction of travel thereof and extends generally transversely to this direction and to the bodies carried by the upper reaches of the belts 28.

As the belts force the relatively large body 32 carried thereon through the severing frame 37, the tensioned wire 38 parts this body into a pair of relatively small bodies 40, 41 (seen on the transport carriage 54) which are taken up by the support belts 43 of a receiving or discharge conveyor 44 driven by a motor 45; Again the belts 43 of the discharge conveyor 44 lie in respective vertical planes and are laterally spaced from one another to receive between them the rigid elements 49 of a pallet 36 below each of the smaller bodies. A pair of overhead rails 50 above the discharge conveyor 44 carry a further crane 51 provided with slings 52 for elevating each of the pallets 36 and the smaller bodies carried thereby and shifting them to the left (FIG. 1) onto respective tiers of the carriage 54. The latter is mounted upon rails 55 and can be switched onto one of several tracks 56, 56b, 56c, for passage into the respective accelerated-hardening or curing autoclaves 58 for steam treatment in the usual manner. The distributing station 59 determines the autoclave 58 to which each truck is directed. From the autoclaves 58, the tracks 55 carry the carriages 54 back to the region of the discharge conveyor 44 for removal of the empty pallets by crane 51 and continuation of the operation. 7

The crane 51 used for lifting the pallets from the forms and for moving them from the discharge conveyor 44 onto the trucks 51 adapted to carry them into the autoclaves 58 in which the relatively small concrete bodies 40, 41, are steam-cured, represent the first and second mechanisms of the present invention adapted to elevate the pallets 20, 36 from and lower them into the gaps between the support elements 28, 43 of the first and second conveyors. As will be evident from FIG. 1, when crane 12 removes a relatively large concrete body 32 from a form 15 and carries it to the end of the row of forms for disposition upon the first conveyor 27, this conveyor carries the body forwardly through the severing frame 37, while the crane 12 returns along its track to lift a pair of reinforcing mats 14, reinforcing rods or other means commonly used to strengthen the concrete members and disposes them in the now empty molds after placing a further pallet 20 in the bottom thereof to form the base of the mold (FIG. 2). Thus, while a particular large body is severed into smaller bodies, its mold is being reused for the casting of a further body. While the severing operation proceeds, relatively small bodies from the discharge conveyor 44 can be shifted into the transport carriage 54 while further relatively large bodies 32 are successively disposed upon the receiving conveyor 27.

In FIG. 4 I show a modification of the conveyor structure wherein the support elements are formed by bars 70 connected via a traverse 71 and secured to the piston rod 72 of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 73. These bars 70 can be interleaved with the conveyor-belt elements or similar shiftable bars of the discharge conveyor for transporting the relatively large body through the severing means and passing the smaller bodies thus produced onto the support elements of the discharge conveyor. The hydraulic or pneumatic means shown for shifting the support element in FIG. 4 are merely representative of any similar structure for displacing rigid support elements.

As previously mentioned, the severing means of the present invention can be provided with blades or the like for shaping the relatively small bodies passed therethrough. In the system of FIG. 5, for example, the severing frame 80 is provided with an L-shaped blade member 81, a tensioned wire 82 and a further blade 83 for respectively forming longitudinal grooves, channels or shoulders in the concrete body 87; for parting the bodies 87, 88 from one another; and for beveling an outer edge of the body 88. It will be immediately apparent that the severing means of FIG. 5 can be substituted for that of FIGS. 1-3 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In the arrangement of FIG. 6, a relatively large concrete body 32 in a plastic or incompletely set state, is not removed from the form until it arrives at the first conveyor of the severing station. In this system, the forms 92 are provided with downwardly convergent lateral and end walls into which the concrete is fed. The

downward convergence of the inner surfaces of these walls prevents the incompletely set concrete body from falling from the form as it is elevated by the crane 96. Only when the crane 96 lowers the form onto the support elements 28 at the conveyor 27, is the form permitted to fall below the concrete body which remains upon these elements for transportation through the severing frame as previously set forth. The invention described and illustrated is believed to admit of many modifications within the ability of persons skilled in the art, all such modifications and variations being deemed within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a plant for the fabrication of concrete members from an incompletely set cast relatively large concrete body formed in a mold, in combination, a first conveyor independent of said mold for receiving said relatively large body and displacing it longitudinally in one direction; severing means forwardly of said first conveyor in said direction and extending generally transversely of said body for parting same into a plurality of relatively small bodies upon passage of said relatively large body through said severing means in said direction; a second conveyor displaceable in said direction and disposed forwardly of said severing means for receiving the relatively small elongated bodies emerging from said severing means, at least one of said conveyors being provided with an array of transversely spaced substantially horizontal support elements extending longitudinally in said direction for carrying said bodies; at least one transport palette provided with an array of transversely spaced support elements interfitted with the support elements of said one of said conveyors and lowerable below the latter for selectively elevating one of said bodies from and depositing it upon the support elements of said one of said conveyors; and mechanism for selectively raising and lowering said palette above and below the plane of the upper surface of said support elements of said one of said conveyors.

2. A plant for the fabrication of concrete members, comprising: at least one generally horizontal concrete form for casting a relatively large and substantially rec tangular flat concrete body; a first substantially horizontal conveyor horizontally offset from the location of said form for receiving said relatively large body and displacing it longitudinally in one horizontal direction;

a first mechanism for shifting said body from said location to said first conveyor;

severing means forwardly of said first conveyor in said direction and extending generally transversely of said body for parting same into a plurality of relatively small bodies upon passage of said relatively large body through said severing means in said direction; a second substantially horizontal conveyor displaceable in said direction and disposed forwardly of said severing means for receiving the relatively small bodies emerging from said severing means, at least one of said conveyors being provided with an array of parallel transversely spaced and generally hori zontal support elements extending longitudinally in said direction for carrying at least one of said bodies, and means for displacing said array in said direction;

at least one grill-shaped transport palette for selectively elevating said one of said bodies from and depositing it upon said support elements, said palette being provided with at least one further elongated element receivable between said support elements below said one of said bodies; and

a second mechanism for removing said relatively small bodies from said second conveyor, one of said mechanisms being provided with means for selectively raising and lowering said palette.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said elements are rigid bars and said means for displacing said support elements includes power means for simultaneously shifting them in said direction.

4. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said support elements are conveyor belts lying in respective generally vertical planes, said one of said bodies being received upon the upper reaches of said conveyor belts.

5. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said severing means includes blade means for shaping said relatively small bodies in addition to parting them from one another upon passage through said severing means.

6. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said severing means comprises a generally upright frame and at least one wire extending transversely to said direction and spanning said frame under tension for parting said relatively small bodies.

7. A plant for the fabrication of concrete members, comprising: at least one generally horizontal concrete form for casting a relatively large and substantially rectangular flat concrete body;

a first substantially horizontal conveyor horizontally offset from the location of said form for receiving said relatively large body and displacing it longitudinally in one horizontal direction;

a first mechanism for shifting said body from said location to said first conveyor;

severing means forwardly of said first conveyor in said direction and extending generally transversely of said body for parting same into a plurality of relatively small bodies upon passage of said relatively large body through said severing means in said direction;

a second substantially horizontal conveyor displaceable in said direction and disposed forwardly of said severing means for receiving the relatively small bodies emerging from said severing means, each of said conveyors being provided with a respective array of parallel transversely spaced and generally horizontal support elements extending longitudinally in said direction for carrying at least one of said bodies, and respective means for displacing said arrays in said direction;

grill-shaped transport palettes for respectively elevating said one of said relatively small bodies from the support elements of said array of said second conveyor and depositing said relatively large body upon the support elements of said array of said first conveyor, said pallets each being provided with at least one respective further elongated element receivable between the support elements of the respective array .below the respective bodies; and

a second mechanism for removing said relatively small bodies from said second conveyor, one of said mechanisms being provided with means for selectively raising and lowering said pallet.

8. A plant for the fabrication of concrete members, comprising: a row of spaced apart generally horizontal concrete form for casting a relatively large and substantially rectangular flat concrete bodies;

a first substantially horizontal conveyor horizontally offset from and at one end of said row for successively receiving said relatively large bodies and displacing them longitudinally in one horizontal direction;

a first mechanism shiftable along said row for shifting said bodies from said row to said first conveyor;

severing means forwardly of said first conveyor in said direction and extending generally transversely of a body carried thereby for parting same into a plurality of relatively small bodies upon passage of the relatively large body on said first conveyor through said severing means in said direction;

a second substantially horizontal conveyor displaceable in said direction and disposed forwardly of said severing means for receiving the relatively small bodies emerging from said severing means, at least one of said conveyors being provided with an array of parallel transversely spaced and generally horizontal support elements extending longitudinally in said direction for carrying at least one of said bodies, and means for displacing said array in said direction;

at least one grill-shaped transport pallet for selectively elevating said one of said bodies from and depositing each upon said support elements, said pallets being provided with at least one further elongated element receivable between said support elements below said one of said bodies; and

a second mechanism for removing said relatively small bodies from said second conveyor, one of said mechanisms being provided with means for selectively raising and lowering said pallet.

9. A plant for the fabrication of concrete members,

comprising:

a row of spaced apart generally horizontal concrete form for casting a relatively large and substantially rectangular fiat concrete bodies;

a first substantially horizontal conveyor horizontally offset from and at one end of said row for successively receiving said relatively large bodies and displacing them longitudinally in one horizontal direction;

a first mechanism shiftable along said row for shifting said bodies from said row to said first conveyor;

severing means forwardly of said first conveyor in said direction and extending generally transversely of a body carried thereby for parting same into a plurality of relatively small bodies upon passage of the relatively large body on said first conveyor through said severing means in said direction;

a second substantially horizontal conveyor displaceable in said direction and disposed forwardly of said severing means 'for receiving the relatively small bodies emerging from said severing means, each of said conveyors being provided with a respective array of parallel transversely spaced and generally horizontal support elements extending longitudinally in said direction for carrying at least one of said bodies, and respective means for displacing said arrays in said direction;

grill-shaped transport pallets for respectively elevating said one of said relatively small bodies from the support elements of said array of said second conveyor and depositing each relatively large body upon the support elements of said array of said first conveyor, said pallets each being provided with at least one respective further elongated element receivable between the support elements of the respective array below the respective bodies; and

a second mechanism for removing said relatively small bodies from said second conveyor, one of said mechanism being provided with means for selectively raising and lowering said pallet.

10. A plant as defined in claim 9 wherein the bottom of each of said forms is provided with an array of fixed support bars for receiving between them in laterally contiguous relationship a respective further element of a respective pallet adapted to deposit the respective relatively large body upon said first conveyor, the bars and the further element of each form defining a substantially continuous receiving surface for concrete and providing the floor of the respective form.

11. plant for the fabrication of concrete members, comprising:

at least one generally horizontal concrete form for casting a relatively large and substantially rectangular flat concrete body;

a first substantially horizontal conveyor horizontally offset from the location of said form for receiving said relatively large body and displacing it longitudinally in one horizontal direction;

a first mechanism for shifting said body from said location to said first conveyor;

severing means forwardly of said first conveyor in said direction and extending generally transversely of said body for parting same into a plurality of relatively small bodies upon passage of said relatively large body through said severing means in said direction;

a second substantially horizontal conveyor displaceable in said direction and disposed forwardly of said severing means for receiving the relatively small bodies emerging from said severing means, at least one of said conveyors being provided with an array of parallel transversely spaced and generally horizontal support elements extending longitudinally in said direction for carrying at least one of said bodies, and means for displacing said array in said direction;

at least one grill-shaped transport pallet for selectively elevating said one of said bodies from and depositing it upon said support elements, said pallets being provided with at least one further elongated element receivable between said support elements below said one of said *bodies;

a second mechanism for removing said relatively small bodies from said second conveyor, one of said mechanisms being provided with means for selectively raising and lowering said pallet;

at least one autoclave for the steam-curing of said relatively small bodies; and

transport means for carrying said relatively small bodies from said second mechanism into said autoclave.

12. A plant for the fabrication of concrete member-s,

comprising at least one generally horizontal concrete form for casting a relatively large and substantially rectangular flat concrete body;

a first substantially horizontal conveyor horizontally offset from the location of said form for receiving said relatively large body and displacing it longitudinally in one horizontal direction;

a first mechanism for shifting said body from said location to said first conveyor;

severing means forwardly of said first conveyor in said direction and extending generally transversely of said body for parting same into a plurality of relatively small bodies upon passage of said relatively large body through said severing means in said direction;

a second substantially horizontal conveyor displaceable in said direction and disposed forwardly of said severing means for receiving the relatively small bodies emerging from said severing means, each of said conveyors being provided with a respective array of parallel transversely spaced and generally horizontal support elements extending longitudinally in said direction for carrying at least one of said bodies, and respective means for displacing said arrays in said direction;

grill-shaped transport pallets for respectively elevating said one of said relatively small bodies from the support elements of said array of said second conveyor and depositing said relatively large body upon the support elements of said array of said first conveyor, said pallets each being provided with at lea-st one respective further elongated element receivable between the support elements of the respective array below the respective bodies;

a second mechanism for removing said relatively small bodies from said second conveyor, one of said mechanisms being provided with means for selectively raising and lowering said pallet;

at least one autoclave for the steam-curing of said relatively small bodies; and

transport means for carrying said relatively small bodies from said second mechanism into said autoclave.

13. A plant for the fabrication of concrete members,

comprising:

a row of spaced apart generally horizontal concrete form for casting a relatively large and substantially rectangular flat concrete bodies;

a first substantially horizontal conveyor horizontally oifset from and at one end of said row for successively receiving said relatively large bodies and displacing them longitudinally in one horizontal direction;

a first mechanism, shiftable along said row for shifting said bodies from said row to said first conveyor;

severing means forwardly of said first conveyor in said direction and extending generally transversely of a body carried thereby for parting same into a plurality of relatively small bodies upon passage of the relatively large body on said first conveyor through said severing means in said direction;

a second substantially horizontal conveyor displaceable in said direction and disposed forwardly of said severing means for receiving the relatively small bodies emerging from said severing means, each of said conveyors being provided with a respective array of parallel transversely spaced and generally horizontal support elements extending longitudinally in said direction for carrying at least one of said bodies, and respective means for displacing said arrays in said direction;

grill-shaped transport pallets for respectively elevating said one of said relatively small bodies from the support elements of said array of said second conveyor and depositing each relatively large body upon the support elements of said array of said first conveyor, said pallets each being provided with at least one respective further elongated element receivable between the support elements of the respective array below the respective bodies;

a second mechanism for removing said relatively small bodies from said second conveyor, one of said mechanisms being provided with means for selectively rais ing and lowering said pallet;

at least one autoclave for the steam-curing of said relatively small bodies; and

transport means for carrying said relatively small bodies from said second mechanism into said autoclave.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 781,120 1/1905 Alsip 25-2 1,454,826 5/1923 Weber 25-2 X 2,131,474 9/1938 Henderson 25-2 X 2,510,573 6/1950 Gray 25--2 X 2,912,738 11/1959 Bergling et al 25--2 3,146,872 9/1964 Prucha 198-16 3,173,185 3/ 196-5 Bergling 25105 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

E. MAR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A PLANT FOR THE FABRICATION OF CONCRETE MEMBERS FORM AN INCOMPLETELY SET CAST RELATIVELY LARGE CONCRETE BODY FORMED IN A MOLD, IN COMBINATION, A FIRST CONVEYOR INDEPENDENT OF SAID MOLD FOR RECEIVING SAID RELATIVELY LARGE BODY AND DISPLACING IT LONGITUDINALLY IN ONE DIRECTION; SERVING MEANS FORWARDLY OF SAID FIRST CONVEYOR IN SAID DIRECTION AND EXTENDING GENERALLY TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BODY FOR PARTING SAME INTO A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY SMALL BODIES UPON PASSAGE OF SAID RELATIVELY LARGE BODY THROUGH SAID SEVERING MEANS IN SAID DIRECTION; A SECOND CONVEYOR DISPLACEABLE IN SAID DIRECTION AND DISPOSED FORWARDLY OF SAID SEVERING MEANS FOR RECEIVING THE RELATIVELY SMALL ELONGATED BODIES EMERGING FROM SAID SEVERING MEANS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CONVEYORS BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ARRAY OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL SUPPORT ELEMENTS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY IN SAID DIRECTION FOR CARRYING SAID BODIES; AT LEAST ONE TRANSPORT PALETTE PROVIDED WITH AN ARRAY OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED SUPPORT ELEMENTS INTERFITTED WITH THE SUPPORT ELEMENTS OF SAID ONE OF SAID CONVEYORS AND LOWERABLE BELOW THE LATTER FOR SELECTIVELY ELEVATING ONE OF SAID BODIES FROM AND DEPOSITING IT UPON THE SUPPORT ELEMENTS OF SAID ONE OF SAID CONVEYORS; AND MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVELY RAISING AND LOWERING SAID PALETTE ABOVE AND BELOW THE PLANE OF THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID SUPPORT ELEMENTS OF SAID ONE OF SAID CONVEYORS. 